Bangladesh News

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday warned that actions would be taken against anyone found involved in repression on children.

“Law has been enacted to deal with it,” she said while addressing a children’s rally and cultural programme on Bangabandhu’s mazar complex here.

The women and children affairs ministry organised the function marking the 90th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The PM said her government wants to ensure education for every child. “We have ensured measures so the children do not engage in hazardous works.”

She asked the children to adopt the ideals of the Father of the Nation.

“You have to respect your parents and seniors; show your love to your friends and juniors because future leadership of Bangladesh will come from you.”

“You have to study well to take the leadership and advance the country to make it the golden Bangla that was dreamt by the Father of the Nation,” she said.

The PM mentioned that the child, who was born here, later led the country in all major movements and gave an independent country.

“He never tolerated any injustice to the people of this country from his childhood,” Hasina said adding that it was his dream to free the country from poverty and hunger.

“At the time when the Father of the Nation was engaged in reconstructing the war ravaged country he was brutally killed on August 15, 1975,” she said.

Describing Bangabandhu’s various initiatives, the PM said that for the welfare of the children the Father of the Nation enacted the Children Act 1974.

“We want to ensure a better future for the children; we want to provide healthcare and education to them.”

In this connection, she said after the independence of Bangladesh, the Father of the Nation provided free education up to primary level and distributed free textbooks, and her government made it up to secondary level.

“We did it to ensure that no children of the country will drop out from the schools.”

Hasina said that for the disabled children of the country, her government had taken various special measures including special medical treatment.

The government provided one junior assistant doctor in all upazila health complexes especially for the children while one dedicated specialist doctor for children in all district hospitals, the PM said.

Hasina said the wealth that she and her sister inherited has been given away for the welfare of the children.

“We made the house at Dhanmondi 32 a museum, and by other wealth we provide scholarships to students across the country through Bangabandhu Memorial Trust.”

She also mentioned that from January 10, the homecoming day of Bangabandhu, the Trust started free medical service across the country.

Some 870,000 people were given medical treatment and medicines through this service that ended yesterday.

Earlier, the PM distributed crests and certificates among the winners of literature and cultural competition.

She also released a commemorative postage stamp marking the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation and the National Children Day 2010.

Later, Hasina inaugurated a book fair. She also distributed cheques among the students of Qaumi Madrasa, Orphanage of the Social Services for Vulnerable Groups Project under the social welfare ministry, and cancer patients.

The PM also distributed cheques for the “Model Village Project to create employment and Poverty Alleviation” of the Standard Bank Limited.

In the morning, President Zillur Rahman and Hasina paid homage to Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at Bangabandhu’s mazar here.

The president and the prime minister offered fateha and munajat at the mazar, seeking eternal peace for the departed soul of Bangabandhu.

PM LEAVES FOR CHINA

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka yesterday afternoon for Beijing on a four-day official visit at the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

Cabinet members, Deputy Leader of the Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, advisers to the PM, senior leaders of Awami League, chiefs of Bangladesh Navy and Air Force, members of the diplomatic corps and senior officials saw her off at the airport.

This is the first visit of the PM to China after assuming her office.

The high-profile visit of the premier to China is seen by politicians, business community and the diplomatic circle as significant for boosting ties between Dhaka and Beijing.

Hasina will hold official talks with Chinese premier today at the Great Hall where she will be given formal reception. She will hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on bilateral, regional and international issues tomorrow.

The PM will address a meeting of the Chinese and Bangladeshi business people today. She will also meet with the Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress and visit Kunming to see the proposed Chittagong-Kunming trans-border road and railway routes.

Three accords the two countries are expected to sign during her visit are `Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement’, `Framework Agreement on Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory’ and `Agreement on 7th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge’.

Besides, both the prime ministers will discuss a number of projects, including Chittagong-Kunming rail and road links through Myanmar, 2nd Padma Bridge, 8th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, capacity building in agriculture sector, telecommunications and solar energy.

Since China is a major supplier of military hardware to Bangladesh, the defence cooperation between the two countries would figure prominently. Dhaka may also request Chinese cooperation in building a deep-sea port.

In 2009, the bilateral trade volume was recorded at US$ 4.58 billion with the balance heavily tilted towards China. The Bangladesh leader would seek Chinese investment in Bangladesh to reduce the wide trade gap.

Hasina is scheduled to return home on March 21.

The premier was accompanied by Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Dipankar Talukdar.

Besides, eminent citizens, MPs and a business delegation were included in her entourage.